Men's Bible Study Summary: Hebrews 7:1-28

In our last study, we explored how Jesus mediates a better covenant, built on better promises, fulfilling what the old covenant could never accomplish. This week, the writer of Hebrews unveils the mystery and majesty of Christ’s priesthood, drawing our attention to Melchizedek, a unique and enigmatic figure who foreshadows Jesus' eternal priesthood. The passage reveals that Jesus is not only a greater High Priest but that His priesthood is eternal, unchangeable, and able to save completely.

Melchizedek: A Foreshadowing of Christ (Hebrews 7:1–10)

The passage begins by introducing Melchizedek, a priest-king who appeared in Genesis:

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything” (Hebrews 7:1-2, cf. Genesis 14:18-20).

Melchizedek is significant for several reasons:

1. He was both a king and a priest—something unheard of in Israel, where priesthood and kingship were always separate (Zechariah 6:13).
2. His name means ‘King of Righteousness’ and ‘King of Peace’, foreshadowing Christ, the true Righteous Kingand Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6, Romans 5:1).
3. He appears without genealogy—the text does not record his birth or death, making him a fitting picture of Christ’s eternal priesthood (Hebrews 7:3).
4. Abraham gave him a tithe, showing that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham—and therefore greater than the entire Levitical priesthood that would come from Abraham’s line (Hebrews 7:4-6).

The point is clear: Melchizedek was a type, a preview of the true High Priest to come—Jesus Christ.

A New Priesthood, A Better Covenant (Hebrews 7:11–19)

The writer now contrasts the Levitical priesthood with Jesus' priesthood, demonstrating that the old system was incomplete:

“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood… what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek?” (Hebrews 7:11).

The Levitical priests were bound by the law—their priesthood was dependent on genealogy. Jesus’ priesthood is different:

“For it is witnessed of him, ‘You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek’” (Hebrews 7:17, quoting Psalm 110:4).

This means:

1. Jesus' priesthood is not based on ancestry—He is from the tribe of Judah, not Levi (Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5).
2. His priesthood is eternal, not temporary like the priests of the old covenant (Hebrews 7:16).
3. The old law has been set aside because it could not bring true righteousness—but Christ’s priesthood introduces a better hope through which we can draw near to God (Hebrews 7:18-19).

Jesus: The Guarantee of a Better Covenant (Hebrews 7:20–25)

Unlike the Levitical priests, whose service ended in death, Jesus' priesthood is guaranteed by an oath from God:

“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’” (Hebrews 7:21, cf. Psalm 110:4).

Because of this:

“This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22).

The old covenant was conditional—it depended on Israel’s obedience. The new covenant is guaranteed by Christ’s perfect obedience, making Him the sure foundation of our salvation.

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).

This means that:

• Jesus’ work is not partial or temporary—He saves completely.
• He continually intercedes for us—our security is based not on our performance, but on His ongoing priestly work (Romans 8:34, 1 John 2:1-2).

A Perfect High Priest (Hebrews 7:26–28)

The chapter ends by contrasting the weakness of human priests with the perfection of Christ:

“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens” (Hebrews 7:26).

Unlike the Levitical priests, who had to offer sacrifices daily for their own sins, Jesus offered Himself once for all:

“He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily… since he did this once for all when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:27).

The law appointed weak, temporary priests, but God has appointed His Son—perfect forever:

“For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever” (Hebrews 7:28).

The entire argument of Hebrews 7 is that Jesus is the perfect and final High Priest—the only One who can truly bring us to God.

Application

1. Jesus’ priesthood is eternal and unchanging. Unlike human mediators, Christ will never be replaced, and His intercession for us never stops (Hebrews 13:8, Romans 8:34).
2. Our salvation is secure in Him. Because Jesus “saves to the uttermost”, we can rest in the assurance that our salvation is not dependent on our performance, but on His finished work (John 10:28-29, Philippians 1:6).
3. We can confidently draw near to God. The Levitical priests were distant mediators, but Jesus welcomes us directly into God’s presence—we can now approach with boldness and full assurance of faith (Hebrews 4:16, Ephesians 3:12).

An Invitation

Men of the church, join us on Wednesday nights from January through March 2025 (6:30–8:00 PM) as we continue our journey through Hebrews. Come and discover the riches of God’s promises, the hope of the gospel, and the confidence we have in Jesus, our great High Priest.